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I just found this website while surfing the internet to see if I was on target for where I should be. I had my surgery on 12/18. As of yesterday, I have lost 60 pounds, which is also halfway to my goal weight. I have no idea how much I should lose by this time. The strange thing is that nobody seems to notice! I have yet to receive a comment about my weight loss and I am literally around about 100 or so of the same people every day. I found recovery from the surgery very easy. I used none of the pain medications or digestion medicines I was prescribed. I have had no reflux or nausea. My biggest issue is struggling to get in enough fluids and nutrients each day. I am usually full by the time I finish my protein, leaving no room for the veggies. Before this I ate few meat products. Now I feel like a carnivore! When will this change? Despite this I am barely meeting the protein goals. An odd thing I did not anticipate is that the health problems that should be getting better have all become considerably worse (sleep apnea, joint pain, allergies). I know this will change at some point, but it is frustrating in the meantime. The other odd thing I have noticed is that the fat is coming off in a completely different pattern than how it came on. At what point will the stubborn belly fat go away? Overall, I am super happy that I did this. I hope to get to my goal.

It's nice to see I'm not the only one Nepenthe44 to break down the science for them and yes that when you do they view it as noncompliance and being difficult. I've even had it suggested that if there's not enough time in my day - wake up and drink a few sips during the night. Science states we as humans require uninterrupted sleep more than those few sips of water. So Nepenthe44 I hate to agree because there will be those that say they really do care, but I do, what people fail to remember is the dieticians are doing a job, one most likely they've never personally experienced for themselves; being a bariatric patient vs. nutritional counseling for bariatric patients having never experienced bariatric struggles. I finally suggested the next time she had the stomach flu and was nauseated and exhausted - wanting to vomit picking up a glass and start drinking water and to make sure to get her 80 grams +- of protein in and getting down 60+ ounces of water, she finally "understood." What is a requirement on paper doesn't always equate to what actually works for people much less a bariatric patient. Its all theory. A body is set up that when you need water lo and behold you feel thirsty! I realize the nutritional requirements for the human body per weight/sex are all fairly similar but the comparisons/suggestions for likes/wants vs needs on food replacements isn't even close E.g. heart of palm noodles vs Thai noodles - in NO way are they taste comparable. So to suggest when I say I miss Thai noodles - heart of palm noodles as a replacement is absurd. That's like suggesting when I say I want a hamburger to replace it with a 3oz of fish - not equal! I didn't say "I miss protein"! They don't understand the struggle and since its their job, not a family member or a true friend they really don't "care." Lastly, I realize they are trying to help and its their job to help me achieve my goals in a healthy way (for those who are thinking this as they read this), but in reality they don't really have a personal investment in my success. I do as they suggest, for the most part, but I also decide what goals are obtainable realistically and which aren't based on consumption quantity vs. time in my day vs. work schedule vs. my employers needs.

i didn't reach my water goals until about 3 weeks post op. protein goals i did not reach until sometime after 3 months..and even after that i reached protein goals maybe 80% of the time i did get headaches weeks during the low water weeks but i slept alot. water def helps with headaches...if it's particularly bad, i've read some folks on here go to doc to administer fluids. i also had a bout of orthostatic hypotension before AND after meeting my water goals (dizzy/fainty from getting up or moving too fast due to low blood pressure)...my doc told me to yep, drink more water, increase my salt intake and exercise, among other things. you are right to speak to your doc, they will advise u properly. good luck! ❤️

I did the 4 wk liver shrinking, it wasn’t a problem for me. I couldn’t eat anything just my protein drinks 800 cal. Some Bariatric Drs don’t do 4 wks just 1 to 2 wks I did 4 weeks befor and 2 wks after

I'm 16 day post op and still not meeting my protein intake goals or liquid goals. I called my doctor and left a message, currently waiting for them to call back. Is this unusual? I'm starting to get headaches at this point.

Currently 10 weeks post op Vsg . Haven’t been able to reach my protein goals (can’t tolerate many foods) & just started reaching my water goals. Not sure if this has contributed to my stall but any advice or recommendations on how to break a stall ?

In case this helps, I'll show you what one of my typical days looks like at 4 months post-op. Keep in mind I have had the DS so I eat more. My personal macro goal is 120-150 grams of protein a day, under 50 total carbs, and 100 grams of fat. Also, I can't tolerate any raw fruit at the moment. And calories are not relevant for DS patients because we malabsorb most fat and a good chunk of our protein... 8 am: Premier Protein Cafe Latte Shake 9 am: Ratio Keto Vanilla Yogurt with 2 tablespoons of toasted coconut chips, 1 tablespoon of keto nut granola, and 1 tablespoon freeze dried strawberries 12 noon: 1/4 cup roasted Spaghetti Squash, 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup of a beef bolognese sauce 2 pm: Cafe Macchiato with espresso and 4 oz Fairlife Protein Milk 3 pm: 2 mozzarella cheese sticks, 2 mini baby cucumbers and 4 cherry tomatoes 6 pm: Roasted chicken leg and thigh quarter, 1/3 cup of vegetable soup 9 pm: Homemade Keto Banana Walnut Dark Chocolate Muffin Total Macros: 150 grams of protein (yay!!), 43 grams total carbs, 97 grams of fat, 1634 calories.

If you stop eating food you will not lose weight. If you don't eat enough food you will not lose weight either... If your calories are too low you will drop into starvation mode and your body will lock down and refuse to lose weight as much as possible in order to keep you safe. Stressful events in our lives can cause this to happen too, but it is most commonly caused by not eating enough food. Your surgeon should have given you a caloric goal along with a sample menu. I think eating protein several times a day is a good sign, chicken and steak are good proteins, as is the yogurt, and most people post op end up using shakes for a while to meet their goals. There is one very big issue with shakes though---they are NOT filling. In fact they will often make you feel hungry. Looking over your menu for the day what I notice is a distinct lack of fiber. With the exception of the little bits you are getting in the fruit in one of your shakes, you have no fiber. Fiber is very important for fullness and many low carb veggies are very low in calories while being quite voluminous. You are 6 months post op, you should be cleared for all foods, that means veggies of a wide variety. Things you can try that are easier on the tummy: baby spinach (both raw and sauteed), baby bok choy (steamed or sauteed), carrots (raw, steamed, or roasted), cucumber, tomatoes (both raw or cooked), broccoli and cauliflower if they don't make you bloated (both raw and cooked in a myriad of ways), asparagus, summer squash (sauteed or roasted), zuchinni (sauteed or roasted), eggplant (baked), heart of palm noodles, spaghetti squash, and on it goes. Beans are also a good source of fiber while being high in protein too. Well cooked and rinsed beans are a great way to boost volume in your diet! You could also do split peas and lentils. A bean soup would be filling while still being low in calories. At least half your plate per meal and snack should be made up of fruits and vegetables. Personally, I'd drop the Atkins shake and add vegetables to every meal and snack. Make sure to pair them with protein: hummus with carrot sticks, peanut butter with sliced apples, boiled eggs made into an egg salad and paired with cucumbers, fresh mozzarella with basil, balsamic glaze, and sliced tomatoes, chicken with steamed asparagus, steak with roasted carrots and squash, small salads with protein toppers, yogurt topped with berries and a few spoonfuls of granola. These things will help you feel full and give you a lot of nutrients that you really need right now to feel satisfied. I'd also skip the macaroni for a whole grain or root vegetable if you are craving carbs. So try a side of buckwheat or quinoa, or roasted sweet potatoes, mashed redskin potatoes with the skins on, or roasted pumpkin or butternut squash.

I'm going to say this as gently as I can: stop feeling guilty. You are not on a diet. You are living a new post surgery life. A life that sometimes has room for half a tuna sandwich. And even some chips. They didn't make you sick, so that's great news. You got lots of good protein. You enjoyed them. You've lost 43 pounds. Stalls happen. Weight fluctuates. Follow the guidelines as best you can and embrace a life where you can make sensible choices (like half a tuna sandwich, I mean, it wasn't a triple cheeseburger and extra large fries) and not have to feel scared about it. I would bet the head hunger and the guilt are all connected somewhere deep in your psyche. (They usually are for me, anyway). Maybe spend some time reflecting on why you are craving what you are, and why at that exact moment, and what might make you feel the urge to self-sabotage by making choices you believe you will regret. Those would be good questions to get to the bottom of. But when you do make a choice you don't like, just chalk it up to experience and try to do better with the next choice. It'll be okay! Remember, this is a life journey, not a crash diet.

I'm glad you are feeling better!! Learning to eat slow is definitely a challenge. I still catch myself sometimes. I get food bored too so I try to eat a variety of things. I don't usually weigh out my food, but I do portion it out/estimate the portion and log it to make sure my macros are on target. It is crucial for DS patients to get enough protein in and if you aren't tracking it you might not be getting enough. It'll eventually show in your labs, but once your protein level drops in labs it is a huge pain to get back up. So it is best to just track it... You don't have to be as exact as weighing, but a good estimation is worthwhile and will also teach you how to understand what correct bariatric portions are for you. My surgeon likes his patients to stay in ketosis for a while so I aim for 120 grams of protein, less than 50 total carbs (usually less than 40 total carbs for me to be safe), and I aim for about 100 grams of fat for good brain health. I don't eat at specific times. That's too much planning. LOL I drink a protein shake as soon as I wake up, then eat a meal about an hour later, and eat every 3 hours after that until I go to bed! I usually end up eating about 5 times a day. I ascribe to the "eat less more often" method and so does my surgeon. I discovered soon after surgery that I need to eat within 3 hours, anything past that and I start to feel exhausted and have no energy and get moody. I feel my best if I eat within 3 hours of my last meal throughout the day... Sometimes eating is a protein snack like a bag of protein chips and a few pickles. Sometimes eating is more meal-like like keto chicken tenders with steamed asparagus. But I always eat by that mark or I pay for it. I also pay for it if I don't get enough fluids in a day, so I watch that. Monitoring your food and water can feel triggering for some people due to past diet attempts. But it is important to reframe it as a caretaking behavior as much as possible, especially for DS patients because our dietary needs are so important to be on target with.

I am currently restricted to eat raw food, such as salad and crunchy fruit. No nuts yet. At about 3 months then I can try, but I would imagine still have to slowly add them to see how I tolerate. Which when I go to Disney I will be only about 2 and a half month. I can eat chicken and fish with no problem now. I did look at Disney app to see what they have available. Look like grill salmon is on the menu and I sure can eat some smoke turkey leg. My current stall is making my brain sending me signals to eat and making me crave for a lot of unhealthy food. I still still eating about 3oz protein 1oz veggie and 1 oz starch. But I gained 3lbs, I got to 229lbs and were so happy I’m in the 220 range which is before my pregnancy, but this morning I am now 232! I have head hunger all day long, and wants to eat so much. I broke down today and kinda cheated. I ate half a sandwich from Panera Bread… It was tuna sandwich, and some chips! I didn’t even feel sick from it and I am so scared… I am feeling so guilty and feel like such a failure.

I like to think its all about balance, so I indulge in popcorn when I go. I do look at the menus before hand, if there is a kid's menu that is not fried I will order from it or order an appetizer to share, there is always salad available or I will eat half a burger, but it will depend on your restriction. I take beef sticks, protein bar and Gatorade zero protein packs, just in case and make sure to hydrate.

Thank you for the advice! It's weird, a day or 2 after I last replied, the random nausea and intense abdominal pain practically disappeared on its own. Of course now I've been fighting with trying not to eat so fast I make myself sick and getting tired of eating the same thing over and over. Do you actually weigh out your food? I'm avoiding that because it reminds me of all the failed attempts at dieting. I doubt I'm hitting my protein and water goals still, but it's been an improvement from the past 6 weeks. You have to stay positive right? Do you actually eat 3 meals or at specific times? I'm still trying to recognize my body cues on that.

I had my surgery on the 16th of Feb - so 20 days ago. I'm still on purées and am mainly having Myprotein clear protein shakes ( 3 a day) and ricotta mixed with different spices/herbs/salts and peanut butter powder for the purées. I've been having pretty loose and watery stools though so I'm very tired. I stared at 91.1kg for 1m67 and now I'm at 82.9kg so I'm loosing at a decent rate but I'm exhausted... pre surgery I was a very big walker and I'm struggling to get to 10k steps a day. I'm eating as much as I can but it takes ages as after 2/3 teaspoons I get a blocked sensation at the top of my throat and a painful feeling in my tummy and have to wait half an hour or so before I can try again. I know this will get better, but it's hard at the moment. What have been the best (easiest) purées you folks have found ? Thanks

Wow! This is inspiring! I had a VSG in 2017 and unfortunately I began to regain in 2021 after giving birth to my first child. I am now post baby number 2 and at 114 lbs regain after losing over 150lbs after surgery. I am going to follow your advice to go back to basics and the original post op diet. Thank you for sharing your journey. Can I ask do you drink the 2 protein shakes as 2 meal replacements so only eat 1 main no carb meal?

My surgery is scheduled for March 21st. Having the sleeve done. Started the pre-op liquid diet today. Only to have 4-5 protein shakes with skim milk a day,crystal light,Gatorade zero,Powerade zero,herbal teas or decaf,clear broths and sugar free jello and popsicles. It's definitely a challenge. But in the end it's gonna be worth it.

For the past 6 months I've been dealing with severe back pain. Both upper and lower back pain. It seems to shift around depending on the month. Tylenol barely helps. I took prednisone one time and that did help but I don't think that's a long-term solution. It's already wearing off. I've tried physical therapy twice in the past year. I've had x-rays and MRIs the doctors don't see anything. I did visit with a specialist at New England Baptist spine center i Boston and he said he's had several other cases of people who had the same surgery, had lost 60 lb, knew their protein intake and were having severe back pain. He didn't have an immediate answer, but did order another MRI. I'm curious if anyone else on this forum has dealt with this. It seems counterintuitive to lose 100 lb and have back pain get worse. I do have a history of back pain. I've been a physical therapy many times. But I never expected it to get worse as I lost weight. If you have this problem and had any success dealing with it (or not) please let me know. Thank you, Jonathan

How are you doing now? I was able to move through the stages right on time, BUT...once I got to the solids at 6 weeks, I had to slooooow my roll because the level of fullness I got after 2 or 3 bites was something I never expected. It's really different for everyone, and while some of us can move through the stages normally, others need 2 or even 3 weeks at each stage before their stomachs can handle the next one. As long as you're getting in your protein and fluids, you'll be fine.

I went with Bypass because the sleeve wasn't an option back when I had surgery. The lab-band was an option and all the sales points for sleeve now were the selling points for lap-band then. The problems with lap-band weren't well known at that time. If the sleeve was available I'm pretty sure I would have still chosen Bypass. Other than being extremely over weight, my core health was pretty solid, but I could see that about to change. I was a binge eater and wanted a surgery that would restrict meal volume which I believe both Bypass and Sleeve would have achieved. I also wanted the additional bit of malabsorption that comes with the bypass. Then comes the possibility of dumping which at the time I had surgery was about a 50/50 chance. I hoped I would get dumping and as it turned out, I dump on both sugars and fats. It took an amazingly few bouts of dumping to keep my eating in alignment with not dumping. So with restricted volume and very limited amounts of sugar and fats, how could I not succeed? Good luck, Tek

At this point, the only protein supplement I can still tolerate is unflavored. I have so many protein shake brands and flavors and I hate all of them. But soup or a smoothie with a couple scoops of unflavored Syntrax Nectar works great. I've heard Isopure is good too.

Quest protein chips are awesome! easy on the go and have 10-20g of protein per bag, protein shakes and protein bars. When you go to the restaurant just eat something grilled and deconstruct the meal. Protein first, veggies then if you have a room a little bit of carbs. You will be walking anywhere from 7-10miles a day! This might be an unpopular opinion but your at Disney! Enjoy it! if your group is eating churros or any of the other yummy things then ask for a bite, you don't need to indulge in the entire churro but in real life we should be able to enjoy everything in moderation. My hubby and I are going to sneak away to a kid-free Disney trip in a couple of months and he loves all the foods, I plan on being able to enjoy bites licks and tastes. I don't go to Disneyland everyday and eat like that like that everyday. I think one of the things I am most excited about is going on every ride and not panicking if I will fit!

Is anyone struggling with taking pills? Tomorrow is two weeks out from surgery for me, and I dread taking my pills morning and night... especially in the morning. This morning I woke up feeling full and the thought of my pills was making me gag. It doesn't matter what size they are; I don't like swallowing them. Once I take them, I have to sit and let them go down. I took them over an hour ago, and I still feel full and a bit gaggy. I have no clue what the deal is with this. I never liked taking pills, but this is crazy. I'm trying to drink a Protein drink to get my mind off this, but I'm struggling cuz I feel so full.

Premier Protein. Chocolate. Vanilla in coffee.

they're both good surgeries. There are some health conditions that would make one surgery more appropriate than the other for you, though. Your surgeon will - or should - let you know their thoughts - but if they say you're a good candidate for either, then it really comes down to personal preference. I had the bypass and love it - and I would make the same decision today. I went with bypass because I had GERD prior to surgery. My surgeon said that although he'd do either surgery, he'd recommend that I least consider the bypass because of my past GERD. The risk of my GERD getting worse with the sleeve was about 30%, and it wasn't worth the risk to me. Another reason was that when I had surgery nine years ago, the sleeve hadn't been done as a standalone surgery for very long - it was just then overtaking the lap band as the non-RNY option. I didn't really want to go with something that didn't yet have a proven track record or much research behind it. However, at this point, the sleeve has been around long enough that I'd no longer have that particular concern, but I'd still go with bypass in my case because of my prior GERD.

Stalls are the worst but you will get used to them and congratulations on your great weight loss. This is what I learned to do on holidays. Breakfasts at hotels are an easy choice for us. Plenty of good choices to be had. Look at every restaurant menu, study it and decide what is good for you before you are seated. I imagine there will be a fridge in your hotel room, stock it with protein yogurt, protein bars and protein drinks. Deli meats, cheese and nuts and seeds are good snack options if you can tolerate them. If at any time you get hungry and there is nothing on the menu - a glass of milk or a skinny latte are really good options If the trip involves a long car journey, plan ahead and pack your meals, drinks and snacks in a cool box. Here is where others will chip in and help you for sure. Enjoy your holiday